Who Was Clara Barton?

Who Was . . . ? Series

by Stephanie Spinner, Who H.Q., David Groff (Illustrator)

Clarissa "Clara" Barton was a shy girl who grew up to become a teacher, nurse, and humanitarian. At a time when few women worked outside the home, she became the first woman to hold a government job, as a patent clerk in Washington, DC. In 1864, she was appointed "lady in charge" of the hospitals at the front lines of the Union Army, where she became known as the "Angel of the Battlefield." Clara Barton built a career helping others. She went on to found the American Red Cross, one of her greatest accomplishments, and one of the most recognized organizations in the world.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, History, Childrens, Civil War, Chapter Books, Biography Memoir

108 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 10, 2014

About the author

I was born in Davenport, Iowa, and grew up in Rockaway Beach, New York. I read straight through my childhood, with breaks for food, sleep, and the bathroom. I went to college in Bennington, Vermont, moved to New York City, and took a job in publishing so I could get paid for reading. I read so much bad fiction that I needed a break, so I moved to London, and from there I traveled to Morocco, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan India, Nepal, and Ceylon. I came back to America, wandered around some more -- to Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize -- and on returning to New York decided to study Tibetan Buddhist painting (called thangka painting) in Boulder, Colorado.

I painted thangkas for many years. Each one took anywhere from several weeks to a few months to complete, and at long last I understood that this was not the ideal way for me to make a living. Only a few hundred Americans collected thangkas, and they wanted old ones, painted by Tibetan monks. It was time to make a change.

So I took another publishing job, this time in children’s books. I found that I liked children’s books a lot, and before long, I became an editor.

Years passed. I was encouraged to write. I scoffed at the idea that I had anything to write about. I edited some wonderfully talented authors -- Virginia Hamilton, Philip Isaacson, Clyde Robert Bulla, Gloria Whelan, Robin McKinley, Joan Vinge, Garth Nix, and Chris Lynch, among others -- with great enjoyment. Writing seemed like torture by comparison.

Then, to my amazement, I found myself writing a book and having a good time -- simultaneously! The book was ALIENS FOR BREAKFAST, and I enjoyed writing it because my co-author was Jonathan Etra. Jon (who died of heart disease in 1990) was a close friend with a wild sense of humor, and collaborating with him changed my opinion of writing forever. After ALIENS FOR BREAKFAST, and ALIENS FOR LUNCH, which we also co-wrote, I began to think that writing could be interesting fun.

And now that I’ve been doing it full-time for more than ten years, I can tell you why I like it better than a job. First, I can work in my bathrobe. (To the FedEx man and the UPS man, I am "the woman in the plaid flannel robe.") Second, I can eat when I’m hungry, choose when to take phone calls, and walk my dogs any time. Third, the only meetings I have -- and they’re short -- are with the dry cleaner and the post office ladies. Fourth, I can read whatever I please. I may tell people I’m doing research when I read about horse-trekking, or hunting in ancient Greece, or 16 ways to better compost, but the truth is, I’m not doing research, I’m having a good time. Which I think is still allowed.

Reviews

[Janete on hiatus due health issues · Rating 5 out of 5]

Project Learning English on my own through children's books. I loved this book and Clara Barton. What an outstanding woman!

Excerpts: "Clara's sisters, Dolly and Sarah, already were teaching in local Massachusetts schools when she was born. They loved books and poetry, and taught Clara to read when she was three. Sarah read poetry to her every night. Even as a small child, Clara was just as drawn to books as they were." (Page 6)

"But there were some things that little girls in the 1820s did not learn how to do. Galloping bareback (without a saddle) on an untrained colt was one. Using men's tools, like a hammer and a screwdriver, was another. Tying strong, reliable knots was a third. And throwing a ball hard and straight like a boy? Never.

Even so, Clara's big brothers, Stephen and David, taught her all those things and more. Stephen was very good with numbers, and he became Clara's math teacher... David, the athlete of the family, taught her to love animals - especially horses -as much as he did. He encouraged her to play outside in the woods like a tomboy, rather than in the house with dolls. Perhaps because he ignored the rules that kept nineteenth-century girls inside, busily being 'little women,' he was something of a hero to Clara." (Page 8)

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had never heard of Clara Barton. Maybe that's crazy, but it's true. She is the lady who founded the American Red Cross. Her story is great and her accomplishments are still with us today! I enjoyed this children's history book on her.

[Zach · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 4th grader read it to me over the course of a week. I learned a lot. Mission accomplished.

[Jenni Loflin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Biography:
I first found out about these books when I was looking for a book about Abraham Lincoln for my niece. I really enjoyed this book because it was very comprehensible and contains clear facts about the person.

In this particular "Who Was" book, I learned a lot about Clara Barton and her impact on society. Clara Barton was one of five children in the Barton family and was much younger than the rest of her siblings. Growing up, her mom thought that she would have trouble in life, as she was a very shy girl. Her mom then pushed her to become a teacher, which she became very passionate about. She ended up reopening an old school building to give many children the gift of education. She also tended to many soldiers during the war as a nurse. She was very passionate about helping people and was a huge activist for women's suffrage. She helped form the American Red Cross which still exists and helps close to one hundred million people every year!

I think that this book could be used in a 3rd-5th grade classrooms. I think that this biography interests students by telling them about a person's life in a story. The text was not complex. In my field placement, we are implementing a lesson about determining importance while using these "Who Was" texts. I think this is a great way to get students to understand how these people impact(ed) our society. Another way I would use this book in my classroom is to make students aware of women's impacts in society. I think this would be a great book to use when doing a Social Studies lesson about voting and the rights of women over time.

This book was a WOW book for me because previously, I have not been the most interested in history but this book kept my interest throughout. While reading this book, I was able to easily understand why Clara Barton was so important in our history. I can't wait to read more books from this collection!

[Isabella Aranda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Today, I finished the book “Who was Clara Barton” by Stephanie Spinner. I would rate this book 3 stars because I felt like the book was pretty boring and not as good or entertaining as the other Who was or What was books… Clara Barton did a lot of things in her life such as her big career as nursing. She loved nursing. She was the founder of the American Red Cross (ARC). Throughout her lifetime, she helped others by nursing them back to help..people such as wounded soldiers or people who survived floods. She enjoyed her job in nursing. I really recommend this book to anybody who enjoys books about health, informational books, or books about famous people. So overall, I rate this book “Who was Clara Barton” by Stephanie Spinner 3 stars.

[Avery Devenport]

i think this was a good book! it was informational but not boring

[Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clara Barton was quite a remarkable woman who volunteered her services during the Civil War to help wounded men, founded the first free school in NJ, was a fighter for woman's rights, one of the first women to hold a government job in Washington D.C., founded the American Red Cross, and worked into her 80's. Even though this was a young reader's book, it was well written and very interesting.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

So amazing she dedicated her life to serving others the way she did. I love the image of her as the angle on the battlefield of the Civil War.

"A Union surgeon wrote, "In my feeble estimation, General McClellan, with all his laurels, sinks into insignificance beside the true heroine of the age, the angle of the battlefield" (43)

So cool how she hooked up with the Red Cross while recuperating in Switzerland and extended it's mission to help people not only in wartime but from natural disasters. Also, very cool how she was the first woman in history appointed by the Secretary of State to represent in the U.S. at an international event. I loved how the wagon driver carrying her casket turned out to be a beneficiary of her service....she saved his father's life on the battlefield.

[AMY · Rating 5 out of 5]

103 pages. Another great biography in the series. I really enjoyed learning about Clara. I also liked the additional information pages on topics like child labor, patent office, nineteenth century medicine, voting rights for women, Geneva Convention, Most Decorated Woman of the Age, timelines, illustrations and maps. This book give a very well-rounded look at an amazing historical person who contributed greatly to the entire world. Highly recommended for grades 4 and up.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really didn't know anything about Clara Barton and I sincerely enjoyed learning about her. I loved how she started her life feeling shy and always felt like she wasn't enough, but that didn't hold her back. She kept pushing forward and trying to make things better. When she set her mind on something she kept going. She worked hard and helped so many people. I felt really sad about how it ended at the Red Cross for her. That wasn't right.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great series to keep in mind for young readers!

[Prabhat sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who Was Clara Barton? by Stephanie Spinner- Illustrated Colour Picture Book- The book narrates the story of Clara Barton (1821-1912) was born December 25, 1821, in North Oxford, Massachusetts. Her father was Captain Stephen Barton who inspired his daughter with a broad humanitarian interest. Barton was sent to school where she excelled in reading and spelling. When Barton was ten years old, she assigned herself the task of nursing her brother David back to health after he fell from the roof of a barn and received a severe head injury. To assist Barton with overcoming her shyness, her parents persuaded her to become a schoolteacher. This profession interested Barton greatly and helped motivate her. Barton became an educator in 1838 and served for 12 years in schools in Canada and West Georgia. After her mother's death in 1851, the family home closed down. Barton decided to further her education by pursuing writing and languages at the Clinton Liberal Institute in New York. In 1855, she moved to Washington D.C. and began work as a clerk in the US Patent Office. On April 19, 1861, the Baltimore Riot resulted in the first bloodshed of the American Civil War. Wanting to serve her country, Barton nursed 40 men. Barton, along with several other women, personally provided clothing, food, and supplies for the sick and wounded soldiers. Ladies' Aid Society helped in sending bandages, food, and clothing that would later be distributed during the Civil War. She worked to distribute stores, clean field hospitals, apply dressings, and serve food to wounded soldiers in close proximity to several battles. In 1864, she was appointed "lady in charge" of the hospitals at the front lines of the Union Army. She was also known as the "Angel of the Battlefield." In the beginning of the Franco-Prussian War, in 1870, she assisted in the preparation of military hospitals and gave the Red Cross society much aid during the war. When Barton returned to the United States, she inaugurated a movement to gain recognition for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) by the United States government. Coloured illustrations help the reader in relating to the story.

[Annika Pardee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book summarizes Clara Barton’s life, from her early years as a shy and compassionate girl to her passing in April 1912. From a young age, Clara showed deep empathy for others. Throughout her life, she worked as a teacher and a Civil War nurse, earning the nickname “Angel of the Battlefield” and helped to make nursing a respected profession. She also fought for equal pay and women’s suffrage, and later founded and led the American Red Cross for many years. Clara spoke out against slavery and was devoted to helping people regardless of race, religion, or nationality. Countless humanitarian groups exist because of her example. The book, thus, highlights her perseverance and strength as she defied societal expectations for women in the 1800s to become a pioneering and influential figure in American history.

I enjoyed reading this book because it takes readers through the course of Clara’s life within the context of the historical period. It was empowering to learn about a woman who fought for what she deserved, even during a time when women were confined to certain roles and often lacked power. Clara was living proof that women were every bit as intelligent and courageous as men. I also appreciated how the accompanying illustrations help readers understand the historical setting and connect more deeply with Clara’s story. The book includes facts about the historical context of the time, as well as a timeline of Clara’s life alongside major world events, which helps readers see her impact in a broader perspective. Overall, this was an interesting and inspiring read, even though biographies are not my favorite genre.

I likely would not use this book in my classroom unless students were completing research projects about historical figures like Clara Barton, creating related timelines, or studying women’s contributions to history. However, the illustrations and text make it a great introduction to biographies as a genre, so I would definitely want to include this book, and others from the series, in my classroom library.

[Nicole Wrightson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun read. I didn't know much about Clara Barton then Red Cross and a nurse. That was it. So going into this book, I knew I was going to learn a lot.

This is such a good book for girls to read about never giving up. Clara faced so much over her life but she never gave up. She also was demanding to be paid as much as a man for the work she did that was the same as a man.

She grew up in a time when Girls were supposed to be quiet and learning to be little homemakers. They were expected mostly to find husbands and settle down. But Clara learned from her sisters how to read and all her girly things. But from her brother's she learned math and how to be a tom boy.

She even spent two years nursing one of her brothers after he fell. He got very sick and she was just eleven years old. She was a good nurse and that was because she was good at taking care of others. She spent a chunk of her earlier years teaching. She was such a good teacher, she was offered a job teaching during the normal term which was normally taught by a man and she wanted to be paid the same and they agreed.

She could take any child and get them to learn. That was how amazing she was. She didn't like seeing any child who was unable to go to school.

It was during the civil war that she really wanted to become a nurse. She became known as the Angel of the Battlefield. But it took some time before she was able to get approval to go onto the battlefield to tend to the wounded.

She had to fight to get the red cross started, she had to mostly fund the red cross herself in the beginning. She was a stubborn and strong willed woman. She knew what had to be done and she worked to get it down. Sadly she didn't trust anyone but herself to do the work that needed done. That was her biggest weakness.

[Natascha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book level: 6.4
Lexile: 960
Fountas & Pinnell: S

Book summary: This book talks about the life and accomplishments of Clara Barton, a teacher who organized efforts to bring nursing care to wounded soldiers during the Civil War and who went on to become the founder of the American Red Cross.

Genre: Biography. This book documents the life of Clara Barton from her early life as a young girl in school to her founding of the Red Cross. All the events included in this book occurred in Clara's life and are documented authentically.

Mentor writing trait:
Conventions. There are many examples of how to correctly include dates, time periods, names, chapters, money amounts, proper nouns (names of military units, locations, etc.) in this book making it a good sample of the use of capitalization and other conventions.

Classroom integration/minilessons:
Have students think of a real event that happened to them and write a news article about it. It need to have the dates and location that the event occurred in (including the city and state) to practice properly writing dates and proper nouns in a text.

It could be used as part of a biography literature unit/text set or a social studies unit on influential women.

[Caleb Payne · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the book "Who Was Clara Barton" by Stephanie Spinner is a book about the story and life of Clara Barton. In her life, she had taken care of her brother who was sick when she was a little girl. That made her want to become a nurse for the wounded during war time. When she was old enough, she went to be a nurse for soldiers that were wounded during war time. While she was traveling the world helping wounded soldiers she found in England the Red Cross. She eventually took the Red Cross to America and made the American Red Cross branch to help not only wounded soldiers but people that had been injured in natural disasters.
Overall I enjoyed this book very much. It was full of facts and interesting history. I had heard of the Red Cross in America but I never knew that it wasn't the original Red Cross. It was very cool to read how one woman started a whole organization that would in the future save millions of lives.
I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to learn about our countries history and to anyone who would like to make a difference in the world or to anyone who would like to be a nurse.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book - I picked this off my daughter's bookshelf and now I'm wondering if all the "Who Was/Is..." series books are this well done. The book covers the life of Clara Barton (founder of the American Red Cross) from her birth in 1821 to her death in 1912. It is easy to read and tells her life as a series of anecdotes which I thought made it very entertaining and accessible. Throughout the book are little sections that describe the state of the world at the time - child labor laws, the state of medicine, political milestones - that really help to put her life in the context of the United States at the time. There is even a World Timeline beside a timeline of her life in the back of the book before the Bibliography. Highly recommended!

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clara Barton was constantly busy helping people all of her life. She started by helping to take care of her brother who fell off the roof and damaged himself when she was a young child. She helped soldiers during several wars including the Civil War and the Cuban War. Once she returned from a trip to Europe she began campaigning for the Untied States to join in the Geneva Accords in which many countries agreed to not harm aid workers when they worked to heal their opponents of war. She lived to see the American Red Cross be established and continued to fight against other injustices in her life time. This was a good read which I would recommend as a beginning resource on the life of Clara Barton.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter asked for help with a project on Clara Barton. I was going to just skim the book, but #ADHD I went down the rabbit hole and ended up sitting there and reading the entire book 🤣
Needless to say, I learned a LOT about Clara Barton! She was so much more than just a Civil War nurse, which was all I had ever learned in the VERY brief mentioning of her name in school, which honestly is a slap in the face to her after learning all she did!
Clara accomplished so much in her lifetime, and in a time where women were not allowed to have a voice like were are today. I was amazed and in awe of her leadership, determination, and dedication to causes she felt were worthy.
If you are interested in learning about her life, or have a report to do on her, add this book to your resources!!

[Katelyn Stapleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had always heard the name Clara Barton but didn't know most of her story. What a fascinating lady. Just reading about all the things she did exhausted me. I loved how her story was told and how it included other facts. I understand that the beginning talking about caring for her brother was a hook, but I was confused about the timeline of that while reading. Yes I know there is a time line in the back of the book. It is SO helpful and a great tool for anyone who reads this. I love the Who Was series and am never disappointed. I would recommend this to any age. It was easy and quick to read and fun to learn from.
I would use this book and others in the series to create a history project. It could be with one or a group of students.

[BlakeF · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who was clara Barton. The book provides a detailed account of Barton's early life, her determination to help others, and her tireless efforts during the civil war as a nurse. Spinner's Writing is accessible and captivating making it easy for readers to connect with Barton's inspiring story. The illustrations and timelines included in the book further enhance the learning experience making it a well rounded resources for anyone interested in learning about this remarkable woman. Overall, it's a compelling read that highlights the impact of clara Barton's humanitarian work and her lasting legacy. I rate this book a 4 stars because it was a good book and I like the civil war. I would recommend to someone who likes the civil war.

[David Rough · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished reading this biography of Clara Barton the same day I listened to an audiobook biography of Taylor Swift. What a stark contrast between women. Clara demonstrated compassion, humility, and altruism her entire life. Glory and fame were not her goal. She dedicated her life to helping and serving others. (Taylor does not seem to follow the same "light)

This biography for young readers is an excellent addition to the "Who Was...? series.

[Ashley Marcum · Rating 4 out of 5]

The most recent book I read was Who was Clara Barton by Stephanie Spinner. This book was about a young girl born in 1821 as the youngest in a family of 7. Clara was shy as a young girl but grew to face her fear by helping others, teaching, and being a professional speaker. She taught as a teacher when she was 17. Then soon opened a free public school for kids who couldn't afford regular schooling. Then moved away to work in a US business. After earning enough money, she moved back home and started her career as a speaker. Then she went out into the battlefield to heal wounded soldiers. She created the Red Cross that raised money to help people from all over the country. Clara Barton was a great woman.

I think this book a very informational book and it taught me a lot from the 1800 and what it was like and the struggle for woman's rights. If I were to change anything it would be to add more information instead of pictures and make the book abbot more well written.

The people who would enjoy this book would be people from the age of 7 to 13 because it has more pictures, big text, and popular quotes, then it has information. Also it is written in a form young kids could understand and it is only 100 pages.

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had no idea how great and strong and courageous Clara Barton was. I knew about the Red Cross and helping soldiers during the Civil War but I had no idea about the teaching, schools, paten office, and helping to start the National First Aid Association to teach first aid to all. What a life she lived. What a great heart she had. Great and informative book.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

She could do things that girls in her time couldn’t usually do. It was really great. She used tools (like a hammer) and threw a ball really straight. She rode an untrained pony without a saddle. She also cared for her brother when he fell off the roof of a barn.

She created the American Red Cross and she helped with the Russian famine relief.

[Sharon McCague · Rating 3 out of 5]

With the number and severity of the natural disasters occurring around the world, this book gave background and a reference point to my 9 year old about the history of an organization that continues to assist people in need.

[CL]

Former teacher who volunteered to help the wounded during the Civil War. Afterwards, went to Europe and learned about the International Red Cross. Campaigned for USA to sign the Geneva Convention. Finally succeeded when Chester Arthur signed the treaty and she founded the American Red Cross.

[Sierra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick overview of her life including short write-ups about important things mentioned & timelines, perfect for someone who wanted to know more about her than Wikipedia but didn’t want a long, traditional biography

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very interesting. I love these books because I learn a lot about people I did not know about. This woman was amazing and she worked hard to achieve her dream. It is amazing what she did.

[Micaela - Rose]

Clara was an amazing woman who did so many wonderful things like being the founder of the American Red Cross, becoming a teacher, nurse and a humanitarian. I really loved learning all the different things about Clara Barton and I think everyone should read about her life.